Russia chapter 4 Flashcards
How much land did the bolsheviks have control over in 1917?
They only had control of a small area in 1917.
What did Lenin create to govern Russia?
The Council of People’s Commissars’ (CPC).
As promised by Lenin, elections were held for the Constituent Assembly in November 1917.
What proved to be very difficult for the Bolsheviks in the early days?
Carrying out their promises of ‘peace, bread and land’ and ‘all power to the soviets’.
Why was carrying out a decree on peace difficult for the Bolsheviks?
A peace deal would be very costly for Russia as the Germans knew they were desperate.
Why was carrying out a decree on land difficult for the Bolsheviks?
Giving peasants land went against Bolshevik beliefs in state control.
Why was carrying out a decree on bread difficult for the Bolsheviks?
If the peasants took land this would be even more difficult to get.
Why was carrying out a decree on power to the soviets difficult for the Bolsheviks?
Giving power to the Soviets would mean the Bolsheviks giving up control.
What was the decree on peace, introduced by the CPC in November and December 1917?
Agreed to an armistice (ceasefire) with Germany while peace negotiations took place.
What was the decree on land, introduced by the CPC in November and December 1917?
Land taken from landowners now belonged to state and would be given to peasants.
What was the decree on nationalities, introduced by the CPC in November and December 1917?
Different nationalities could have their own governments.
What was the decree on workers rights, introduced by the CPC in November and December 1917?
An 8 hour working day (48 hours a week),
Unemployment insurance,
Factories put under control of worker’s Soviets.
What portion of the votes did the Bolsheviks win for the Constituent Assembly?
The Bolsheviks only got 24% of the vote.
What portion of the votes did the SRs win for the Constituent Assembly?
The SRs won with 53%.
What happened when the Constituent Assembly met for the first time on 5th Jan 1918.
It rejected all of the Bolshevik decrees. Lenin used this as an excuse to walk out of the assembly.
What happened on the 6th of January 1918?
The Red Guard was brought in to prevent the assembly from opening. Shortly afterwards opposition parties were banned.
How long did Trotsky keep negotiations for a peace deal with Germany going?
2 months.
What happened when Trotsky prolonged the peace deals in 1918?
He then refused to give the Germans anything, in response to which the Germans continued their invasion of Russia.
What did Lenin demand of Trotsky in response to Germany continuing its invasion?
Lenin then demanded that Trotsky accept peace ‘at any price’.
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
An agreement that took Russia out of the First World War but imposed very harsh terms.
Russia had to give up Ukraine, Baltic provinces, Finland, Georgia and parts of Poland.
What was the reaction to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
- The Russian people were angry.
- The loss of 27% of Russian farmland meant that food shortages became worse.
- 1 million people had left
Petrograd by June 1918. - It united Bolshevik enemies and so was a major cause of the Civil War.
Which sides fought in the Civil war?
The Reds and Whites (and Greens).
The Whites
- Made up of all the enemies of the Bolsheviks (Tsarist supporters, SRs, supporters of the Prov Gov/constituent assembly).
- They were also supported by foreign powers who provided troops (Japan, Czech Legion, USA) and/or funding (GB).
The Greens
The peasant armies who fought for control of their own areas.
The Reds
- Trotsky (Commissar for War) organised the Red Guards into a more traditional, disciplined and well-trained force called the RED ARMY.
- There were 5.4 million
men by 1921 because of conscription. - Trotsky recruited officers from the Tsar’s army. Each one was supervised by a Bolshevik political commissar to ensure their loyalty.
